Seat construction for furniture



w. WESTPHAL SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNITURE Feb. 16, 1932.

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Oct. 3. 1927 INVENT01 19/ 3 wfm {MI/HTTOBA/EY Feb. 16, 1932. w. WESTPHAL SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNITURE Filed Oct. 3. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 7 v J/VVE/VTOE Zl/iZZiam Z/fesZ 7m! Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES WTLLIAM WESTPHAL, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA vSEA'I COIN'STR'UCTION FOR FURNITURE Application filed October 3, 1927. Serial No. 223,679.

This invention relates to seats for chairs and davenports and the like, and more particularly to means for supporting furniture seats whereby a highly resilient and comfortable seat having a spring edge is attained. An object of my invention is to provide a piece of furniture with a highly resilient seat surface by inexpensive and extremely simple and novel means.

Another object is to provide articles of furniture having all the physical attributes above stated which will require, in its construction, only a minimum amount of ma-' terials, and a minimum amount of labor.

Another object is to provide a novel seat construction for chairs and davenports whereby a highly resilient spring edge seat may be provided without requiring the use of burlap webbing or the usual large num- 2 ber of small springs in the cushion and seat box construction.

A further object is to provide a seat of the above character with a minimum number of sturdy inexpensive parts that may be easily and quickly assembled by unskilled workmen. Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appended claim.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in some of the forms I at present deem preferable.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair frame having a seat embodied therein constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental transverse vertical section taken on line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2, with the 40 padding and covering secured to the chair frame and seat construction.

Fig. 4 is a view analogous to Fig. 2 embodying a modification of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a davenport frame having a seat embodying my invention and showing such frame partly covered or upholstered.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 66, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental vertical section on the same plane asFig. 6, showing the forward portion or spring edge of the davenport, with the seat upholstered and a removable cushion on the seat.

my invention as. applied to a chair having a frame 1, which includes a base or box frame 2, legs 3 on which frame 2 is mounted, a back 4, and arms 5. r

My invention comprehends a spring suspended floating seat member 6 mounted for resilient up and down movement in the 'chair 1. The seat 6 comprises a substantially rectangular seat frame 7 on the lower or upper side of which is secured body supporting means or surface, such as a wire mesh 8 as shown in Figs. 2 and 1 respectively, and to which frame is secured, near the front and rear, respectively, of the seat frame, a pair of slats 9, preferably of metal. The slats exn. tend across the seat frame beyond the sides thereof and are secured at their outer ends to the lower ends of suspension springs 10, the upper ends of which springs 10 are connected to the chair or furniture frame, such as tobars 11 that are secured at their ends to the back 4 and the forward part of the arms 5. The seat frame 7 may be upholstered with upholstering 12 which is supported by the frame and the wire mesh 8. Links 13 extendingin parallelism to the sides of the seat frame are pivotally connected at their rear ends to the side edges of the seat frame 7 near therear of the frame as at 14, while the forward'ends of said links are pivotally connected at 15 to the side members 16-of the base frame 2 to prevent material backward and forward movementof the seat in the frame 1. Each of the arms 5 includes a front upright member 22, a topmember 23, and a horizontal bar 2 f secured at one end to the front member 22 and at its other end to the seat back 4 on the inner side of the arm with its lower edge substantially coincident with the lower edge of the seat frame 7 when said frame is in its normal uppermost position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A sheet of suitable material, such as strong coarse fabric 40 extends over the top member 23 of each arm 5 and downwardly over the outside with upholstering 17 which extends over the top, outside and inside of the arms over the fabric 40. A cushion 42 may be placed on the seat.

The entire surface of the seat 6' including its forward edge 18 yields under the influence of the weight of aperson sitting thereon which puts the springs 10 in tension, While the seat is prevented from material sidewise movement in the frame 1 and is maintained with its front edge 18 in alignment with the front of the chair, by means of the links 13. When the seat is depressed by the weight of a person sitting upon it, the springs 10 will not be seen because the seat will not be depressed far enough to expose the springs below the inside arm bars 24. Moreover there is still less chance of the springs being seen when the cushion 42 is placed on the seat which further conceals the springs.

In the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 4 the links 13 are pivoted at their rear ends at 14 to the rear of the seat frame 7 as in Figs. 1-3, but said links are pivoted at 19 near their forward ends to the upright arms of angle brackets 20' which are secured to the inside of the side members of the base frame 2', while the forward ends of said links are connected to the upper ends of springs 21 which are connected at their lower ends to the horizontal arms of said angle brackets 20. The springs 21 offer additional resistance to the depression of the rear surface of seat 6 and give additional resiliency to the seat if required.

In Figs. 57 I have illustrated my invention as applied to a davenport 25- that includes a base frame 26, legs 27 on which said frame 26 is mounted, a back 28 and arms 29.

The seat 30 of the davenport is constructed in accordance with my invention as above described, and comprises a rectangular seat frame 31, to the under side of which are secured longitudinal slats 32 which extend be yond the end of frame 31, a plurality of transverse slats 33 spaced at suitable distances apart that extend slightly beyond the rear of the frame. The ends of the slats 32 are connected to the lower ends of springs 34' which are connected at their upper ends to the davenport frame, such as bars 35 which are located within the arms 29 and are secured at their rear ends to the back 28 and at their forward ends to the forward part of the daven port arms 29'. The rear ends ofthe bars 33 are connected to the lower ends of springs 36 which are connected at their upper ends to the davenport frame such as the horizontal bar 37 thereof which is secured to, and extends along, the back 28 of the davenport. The forward edge 38 of the seat 30 is resiliently supported upon helical springs 39 which are mounted on the forward member of the davenport base frame 26 and in addition to the suspension springs 34 and 36 give the seat and its forward edge the desired resilience.

I claim:

In an article of furniture including a frame having a back member; arms mounted on said frame and each including a front upright member and a top member; a horizontal bar secured to the front upright member of each arm and to said back member; bars secured to the front member of each arm and to said back member; a seat means secured to said seat and extending into the spaces formed in said arms and being underneath said horizontal bars; springs connected at one end to the bars in said arms and at their other end to the means extending into the spaces in said arms; and a covering extending on the inside of said arm from said horizontal bars over the top member and along the outside of said arm and secured to said frame, said springs being adapted to permit downward yielding movement ofsaid seat, and to hold the upper surface of the seat above the lower edge of said horizontal bars when said seat is unoccupied or occupied.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 27th day of September, 1927. p I

WILLIAM WESTPHAL, 

